Australia Launches New Cannabis Study for Treating Pancreatic Cancer

Australia is becoming one
of the most promising centers of cannabis research. The University of
Sidney in cooperation with Chris O’Brein Lifehouse recently started
the world’s first clinical trial of treating cancer with cannabis.
The trial is set to test the herb’s effects on vomiting and nausea
caused by chemotherapy in eighty patients. Now, another group of
researchers from Perth will study whether or not cannabis can help
treat pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is
one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is very difficult to
treat. The disease is likely to replace the colorectal form of cancer
as the second most common cancer death in just a couple of years.
About eight percent of patients
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live longer than five years.

According to Perth
News,
the researchers from Curtin
University are going to treat pancreatic cells cultured outside of
the human body with a special combination of cannabis extracts.
Scientists hope that the results of the new test will be similar to
those of the recent studies on the influence of cannabis on breast cancer. Earlier research
showed that THC, a major psychoactive compound found in cannabis,
could reduce breast cancer tumors in laboratory rodents. Moreover,
cannabis demonstrated the same efficiency as a chemotherapy drug
Lapatinib.

The Curtin University
research will include tests of the effects of cannabis alone and in
combination with chemotherapy drugs. The University is currently
working with Zelda Therapeutics, a big biopharmaceutical company from
Perth. Both Zelda Therapeutics and Curtin University find the new
research to be very promising and hope that it will open alternative
therapies for treating pancreatic cancer.

Pre-clinical results of
marijuana’s anti-cancer potential are amazing. Studies show that
cannabis-based treatments may also have a positive impact on other
pancreatic ailments.